| Ananda (ah-nan-dah): the condition of utter joy, which is an essential quality of the ultimate Reality. Asana (ah-sa-nah): A yoga position, yoga pose, or flow series. A balanced position for smooth energy flow in specific areas of the body and mind. Chakra: a wheel or circle. Energy (prana) is said to flow in the human body through three main channels (nadis), namely, Susumna, Pingala and Ida. Susumna is situated inside the spinal column. Pingala and Ida start respectively from the right and left nostrils, move up to the crown of the head, and course downwards to the base of the spine. These two nadis intersect with each other and also the Susumna. The junctions of the nadis are known as chakras, or the fly-wheels, which regulate the body mechanism. Chitta: The mind in its total or collective sense. It is composed of three categories: Mind, having the faculty of attention, selection and rejection; Reason, the decisive state determining the distinction between things; and Ego, the I-maker. Dharana: Concentration or complete attention. The sixth stage of Yoga mentioned by Patanjali. Dharma (dar-mah): Duty or righteous path. Hasta: hand Hatha: sun/moon; balance HeartCenter: Located in the heart, lungs and thymus gland, the heart center is the seat of compassion and love. This is where our lower animal self meets our elevated spiritual self and where we find our humanity. Higher Self: The Spirit, or Soul: the undying part of you, which is part of the Divine Kharma: action Kundalini: The Kundalini is the divine cosmic energy. This latent energy has to be aroused and made to ascend the main spinal channel, then the Yogi is in union with the Supreme Universal Soul. Mandala: a circle Mantra (mahn-tra): Translated means “mind wave.” Usually, a sound or word that holds a sacred or spiritual meaning, used with the intention to refocus the mind in the direction of our higher self, or some aspect of the divine. (Note: any word repeated over can become a mantra, so choose your conscious - - and even unconscious - - thoughts and words carefully. They will work to manifest themselves in the physical world.) Mudra: a seal; a seated posture Mukha: face Namaste (nahm-ah-stay): Greeting often heard in yoga classes. Roughly translated: The light in me greets the light in you, and when it does, we are one. Nava: boat Om (ohm): In Sanskrit, the meaning of Om is avati, or rakùati. Rakùati means ‘One who protects, sustains.’ The original mantra symbolizing the ultimate Reality, which is prefixed to many mantric utterances. Parivrtta: turned around or revolved Patanjali: The author of the yoga sutras. The propounder of Astanga yoga. He put it on paper, so the world could experience it. Prana: Breath, respiration, life, vitality, wind, energy, strength. It also connotes the soul. Pranayama (prah-nah-ya-ma): breath control consisting of conscious inhalation, retention, and exhalation. Pratyahana: Withdrawal and emancipation of the mind from the domination of the senses and sensual objects. The fifth stage of yoga. Root Lock: Actual name: mulbandha. Applying the root lock is the act of squeezing up on the muscles of the rectum, sex organs, and navel center. This works to “lift” the energy from the lower chakras (energy centers) to the higher chakras. Sanskrit: A non-religious, spiritual language handed down and practiced for generations. It is said that these words hold collective energy from all the people who have practiced them before you. Surya: the sun Third Eye: Located at the center of the forehead, just above the brow line. When meditating, yogi close their eyes and look upward towards this mystical third eye, which is said to be the seat of intuition in the brain. Tola: a balance Trikona: triangle Ujjayi: A type of pranayama in which the lungs are fully expanded and the chest is puffed out. Uttanasana: Standing forward bend, intense stretch. Yoga: union or communion Yoga-mudra: a posture Yogi or Yogini: one who follows the path of yoga. |
